William a



(No Model.)

W. A. BEIN. PIANQ.

No. 561,041. Patented May 26, 1896.

AN UIEW liIAHAM. PHUTOUUIOWASHIN ml D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM A. BEIN, OF NEIV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE B. SHONINGER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561 ,041 dated May 26, 1896. Application filed May 6 1895. Serial No. 548,239. (No model.)

To to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM A. BEIN, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Conn ecticut, have invented a n ew Improvement in Pianos; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a detached plan view of a metal harp-base constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a view thereof in front elevation; Fig. 3, a view in vertical transverse section, showing also the lower end of the harp.

My invention relates to an improvement in pianos, and more particularly to metallic bases for the harps thereof, the object being to provide the harp of a piano with a base which will not be disfigured by the constant contact of the feet with it, and which shall provide an effective mounting for the pedals.

\Vith these ends in viewmy invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown I employ a rectangular chambered metallic base A, cast in one piece and containing a large upwardly-opening chamber A, the upper portion of which receives the reduced lower end of the harp B, which rests upon horizontal flanges A projecting inward into the said chamber from the side walls of the base, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The said base is constructed with straight side walls and with a bead or molding a at its lower edge; but its particular form and ornamentation may be widely varied, as will be apparent. The front wall of the base is constructed with three openings A A, and A, receiving the inner ends of the pedals C, C, and 0 all of which are pivotally mounted upon short horizontal pins D, supported in the forward ends of wooden blocks E, E, E and E resting upon the bottom of the base and secured thereto by screws F, extending upward through the said bottom, as shown in Fig. 3. The inner ends of the levers extend between the said blocks and play up and down in the lower portion of the chamber A of the base between the bottom thereof and the lower end of the harp B.

It will be readily understood that a metal base thus constructed and applied to the lower end of the harp will receive the wear thereof due to the constant contact with the feet of the performer at the instrument. Being of metal, the base will not be disfigured by this contact, but will withstand any amount of wear without showing it. The base, moreover, forms an ornamental finish for the harp, the strength of which it also increases. It forms also an excellent mounting for the pedals.

Another feature of my invention provides for the adjustment of the pedal-sticks G, which are acted upon bythe innerends of the pedals.

It is apparent that in carrying out my i11- vention some changes in the construction shown and described may be made, and I would have it understood that I do not limit myself thereto, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes therein as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a piano, the combination with a metal harp-base having a large upwardly-opening chamber, a flange extending inward into the said chamber below the upper end thereof, and pedal-openings formed in the lower portion of the front wall of the base at a point below the said flanges; of a harp having its lower end reduced and inserted into the upper portion of the said chamber so as to have a bearing upon the said inwardly-extending flange; pedals having their inner ends inserted into the lower portion of the said chamber through the said pedal-openings in the front wall of the base, and means located within the lower portion of the said chamber for pivotally supporting the pedals, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. A. BEIN. Witnesses:

FRED. O. EARLE, LILLIAN D. KELsEY. 

